Lesson 1: Interactions in Ecosystems
To reduce competition, the role of an organism in its habitat is called its......
A. Adaptation B. Host C. Niche D. Parasite
C. Niche
The series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time is called: _____________
A. Natural Selection
B. Ecology
C. Commensalism
D. Succession
D. Succession
A __________________ is a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem.
Keystone Species
Going for a hike in a forest, where you can breathe fresh air, observe wildlife, and relax is an example of a ___________________________ service that an ecosystem can provide.
Cultural
Which of the following is an example of predation?
A. bee collecting nectar from a flower
B. A tick feeding on a dog
C. A lion hunting a zebra
C. A lion hunting a zebra
In which type of symbiotic interaction do both species benefit?
A. Predation B. Mutualism
C. Commensalism D. Parasitism
B. Mutualism
A disruption to an established ecosystem can lead to
A. New organisms being prevented from moving into the area.
B. Changes in the populations of the community.
C. More resources for all the organisms that make up the community.
D. hurricanes or volcanic eruptions
B. Changes in the populations of the community.
A _____________________ is a non-native species that is introduced into an ecosystem and severely disrupts it by competing with native species.
Invasive Species
The water cycle, photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and soil formation are examples of __________________
A. Cultural Services
B. Provisioning Services
C. Regulating Services
D. Supporting Services
D. Supporting Services
Which organisms are primarily responsible for recycling nutrients in an ecosystem?
A. producers
B. Decomposers
C. Predators
B. Decomposers
Four different mammals all live among oak and maple trees in a forest. They don't seem to compete for the same foods or nesting spots. Which of the following is likely explanation for this lack of competition?
A. The four species occupy different niches
B. their small size is a limiting factor that reduces competition amongst them.
C. There is a shortage of food
D. There is a shortage of space
A. The four species occupy different niches
A former farmland that is now home to shrubs and small trees is undergoing....
A. Pioneer Succession
B. Primary Succession
C. Secondary Succession
D. Adaptive Succession
C. Secondary Succession
Why are species with low genetic diversity at more risk of becoming extinct than species with high genetic diversity?
Individuals with low genetic diversity are very similar. This means if a disease comes through, it would wipe out all of the organisms. This means changes in the ecosystem impacts them more than organisms that are genetically diverse (less similar).
What are some examples of provisioning services humans get from plants?
Wood, fruits, vegetables, nuts, medicine, herbs and spices, cotton, rubber, paper
A stable, mature community that has reached the end of ecological succession is called a__________________.
A.Pioneer Community
B. Seral Community
C. Climax Community
D. Transitional Community
C. Climax Community
Why is it in the best interest of the parasite not to kill its host? Explain
The parasite uses the host to survive. If it kills its host, it needs to find a new host to survive which makes it use more energy/could potentially die if it cannot find a new host.
After a long time, a mature community is established in an ecosystem. This community will not change unless a component of the ecosystem is ______________.
Disturbed/disrupted
Predict what would happen to the predator-prey relationship of a frog and a blue heron in a wetland ecosystem in the midst of a drought.
Frog population goes down, so the heron population also decreases due to the lack of food for them to eat. Heron will die off or leave for another ecosystem with more food sources.
Describe an example of when land reclamation may be needed on a beach.
Which of the following is an example of a natural disturbance that can lead to secondary succession?
A. Volcanic Eruption
B. Glacier Retreat
C. Forest Fire
C. Forest Fire
Describe what a predatory relationship would look like in a forest ecosystem and a wetland ecosystem. Identify any similarities and differences.
Forest- Hawk/owl eating small rodents/organisms.
Wetland- Alligator/snake eating small organisms.
The organisms that are eaten are small and in the forest live on land while the wetland prey live on land/water.
When a disrupted part of a wetland ecosystem is left alone so that nature can help restore it to what it once was, what are people counting on occurring? Explain.
They are counting on secondary succession occurring. By stopping whatever disruptive practices were occurring, they are hoping the native plants and animals will move back into the area so the area will once again become part of the system around it.
Describe an example in which humans overuse an ecosystem's resources for their economic value.
Logging, etc. Cutting down too many trees takes the trees from the ecosystem and takes years to regrow/undo.
How can bioremediation play a role in cleaning up an oil spill?
Microscopic organisms are brought into the area where the oil spill happened, and they help break down the pollutants in the water.
Why is an elephant considered a keystone species?
They impact all parts of the ecosystem (uprooting trees so smaller trees/brush can grow and bring in more organisms).